Organic-Tainted Mineral Soils, Part I: Defining Geotechnical Treatability Through Neutralisation Demand

Chee-Ming Chan; Adnan Zainorabidin; Salina Sani; Sherliza Zaini Sooria; Romziah Azit; Hiong-Mui Kueh

doi:10.56532/mjsat.v6i3.828

Authors

Chee-Ming Chan Research Centre for Soft Soils (RECESS), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
Adnan Zainorabidin Research Centre for Soft Soils (RECESS), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
Salina Sani Research Centre for Soft Soils (RECESS), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
Sherliza Zaini Sooria JKR Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Technology (CREaTE), Melaka, Malaysia
Romziah Azit JKR Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Technology (CREaTE), Melaka, Malaysia
Hiong-Mui Kueh JKR Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Technology (CREaTE), Melaka, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56532/mjsat.v6i3.828

Keywords:

Organic-tainted Mineral Soil, Neutralisation Demand, Subgrade Stabilisation, Geotechnical Treatability, Organic-binder Interaction

Abstract

Organic-tainted mineral soil (OTMS) is an under-recognised subgrade condition between conventional mineral soil and peat. Although mineral-dominated and physically workable, its reactive organic fraction may consume alkalinity, sequester calcium, passivate mineral surfaces and suppress durable cementitious bonding. Conventional lime- or cement-only treatment may therefore produce delayed, spatially variable and moisture-sensitive strength despite satisfactory dry laboratory results. This critical review delineates the geotechnical territory of OTMS and advances neutralisation demand as the governing variable for treatability. It denotes the minimum chemical input required to overcome organic acidity and buffering, satisfy initial calcium uptake and establish a sustained pore-fluid environment favourable to binder hydration. Evidence synthesised from cement-, lime- and alternative cementation systems shows that stabilisation depends not only on organic quantity, but also on organic reactivity, calcium availability, alkalinity retention, mineralogy and pore-fluid chemistry. The proposed framework distinguishes the treatment consumed in controlling organic interference from the binder capacity remaining to develop engineering strength. It further identifies an optimum chemical window: insufficient treatment leaves the organic demand unresolved, whereas excessive alkalinity or calcium addition may induce adverse pore-structural and volumetric effects. OTMS treatability should therefore be evaluated through mechanism-based chemical compatibility rather than fixed organic thresholds or empirical binder escalation. The framework provides a testable basis for subsequent laboratory determination of neutralisation demand, engineering-performance verification and field-scale assessment. As a critical review and conceptual framework, this Part I reports no new laboratory or field validation data.

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